As Olivia Newton-John prepares for a homecoming concert in Cardiff, Karen Price asks her about family connections, her music and a certain film called Grease

She may be regarded as one of Australia’s most famous exports but Olivia Newton-John is half Welsh. As she prepares for a homecoming concert in Cardiff, Karen Price asks her about family connections, her music and a certain film called Grease

OLIVIA Newton-John is sitting in the Californian sunshine when I call her from chilly Wales.

But she’s more than happy to be swapping the warmth for much cooler climes this weekend when she visits her father’s birthplace – Cardiff.

The singer will be performing in the Welsh capital as part of her first UK tour for 35 years.

“It will be lovely to be performing in my father’s homeland,” she tells me.

“Unfortunately my relatives (in Wales) have all passed away now. I have been back to the little house (where they lived) and little church where they are buried. It was a beautiful trip. My sister and I did the trip together.”

The pair visited Cardiff in December 2007 to trace their family history as part of the BBC documentary series Coming Home.

And the Grease star was shocked to find out that her straitlaced grandmother Daisy, who used to go to church five times on a Sunday, had worked as a barmaid in The New Market Tavern in a once unsavoury part of the city.

Her dad was also born in Cardiff and educated at Canton High School, which is now home to the Chapter Arts Centre.

Newton-John was born in Cambridge, but when she was five, her family emigrated to Australia.

While she’s now looking forward to her return trip to Wales, it will only be a whistlestop visit.

“I don’t have any plans for anything special while I’m there, but my husband (herb tycoon John Easterling) is visiting Wales for the first time, so it will be nice for him to see the country.”

The Grammy Award-winning singer is celebrating her 40th year in music during her tour, which is her first in the UK since her Totally Hot World Tour in 1978.

“That’s what they tell me,” she says when I point out how long it is since she entertained her British fans.

“I’ve been there (the UK) so many times visiting and doing TV shows.”

With more than 100 million album sales under her belt, she has plenty of tracks to choose from for her set-list.

“It will be fun. I’ve got 30 years of music I’ve not played live. I’ll play all the songs from my very beginnings in England to my country music and music from Grease and my albums in between. It’s a journey through my life.”

She will also be revisiting the song she sang in Eurovision when she represented the UK in 1974 – Long Live Love.

“I’ve never sung it in concert before,” she admits.

While she’s touring arenas, don’t expect the kind of show-stopping antics that stars like Kylie Minogue, Beyonce and Rihanna may employ.

“It’s a very simple show, just me and my music. I’m not really a big production person. I’ve never done that kind of thing. I’m really lucky that I’ve had great songs which don’t need to be dressed up.”

Newton-John’s back catalogue includes Grease hits like Summer Nights and Hopelessly Devoted To You, her duet with Sir Cliff Richard called Suddenly, Magic, taken from the soundtrack to the film Xanadu, and the Grammy Award-winning I Honestly Love You.

Does she have a favourite track?

“It’s like with your kids – you can’t pick a favourite,” she says. “But there are lots of songs I really like and John (Farrar) wrote most of them, including Magic.”

Although she’s now 64, but could give women a few decades younger a run for their money, Newton-John clearly still enjoys touring, although she admits she plans on slowing down in the near future.

“I’ve just finished a 35-city tour in America,” says the mother-of-one. “I was in Asia before that. It’s tiring but I enjoy it a lot. I love my band and I love the whole bus thing. I do see myself doing less of it.”

While she now lives in America, Newton-John returns to Australia regularly as she co-owns the Gaia Retreat & Spa near Byron Bay and she has also launched the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre in Melbourne.

“Those two things draw me back,” says the star, who was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 44.

As far as her career is concerned, she says she has many happy memories.

“I sang during the opening of the Olympics in Sydney, which was a huge moment for me,” she says as she reels off some of her highlights.

“And then there’s Grease, of course...” she trails off.

Newton-John was 30 when she was cast as wholesome schoolgirl Sandy opposite John Travolta as Danny in the 1978 movie which catapulted them to super-stardom.

But while it may be 35 years since the pair’s adventures at Rydell High School, she never tires of talking about the film.

“I feel lucky that I’m part of a film that made so many people happy,” she says.